I've been trying to find this movie I watched when I was little, probably in the early 90's. I'm pretty sure it was an anime about some little people, maybe fairy people, that lived in the forest near a human house. All I remember from it was that some of the adult fairy-things were holding some sort of training session with the children and one would carry around a willow or maybe it was a fuzzy type of grass and say 'the cat is coming!' and all the children would lie down and pretend they were dead, then the adult would come around and tickle them with the plant like it was the cat's whickers and they had to not move at all.
I think the main character was a little girl and she had a hard time with the training and wanted to go into the human's house.
If anyone could help me out that would be greatly appreciated! :)

I know what movie you're asking about and that's what led me to your question and askmehelpdesk...

Wasn't there a small person who wore some sort of trench coat and a large brimmed hat? I remember the only only thing visible where his eyes and nose... It was one one of my favorites as a kid and I'm bummed that I don't remember the title =/

Wee Wendy
a.k.a. Little Memole
a.k.a Little Mimi
a.k.a Crocus
a.k.a. Tongari Boushi no Memoru